Warrior Memories: 1988 Warrior grad Ray Rook

By Dick Trone October 23, 2009 07:25 am

Ray Rook is a 1988 Warrior graduate that I had the privilege and pleasure of coaching while he wore the blue and gold on the Del Norte gridiron.

When you watch a football game, every offensive play starts with the center snap. Ray played the center position for the Warrior junior varsity and varsity during his entire four year career. I know that as a football coach I always looked for someone I could trust to put in that key position. With Ray there I knew the play would always start right, whether it ended that way or not.

Ray only played baseball for one year as it was not his favorite activity. The sport that he was really good at beside football was swimming. Ray swam in the local age group swim program from the time he was old enough to do so and was very successful.

After graduation Ray became involved with coaching in the local youth program. It was something he did for 10 years as he served as head coach in two different age groups.

After his experience with the youth program Ray joined Steve Luis, Del Norte’s junior varsity head coach as his offensive line coach. At two different times, when Steve was waging his battle with cancer, Ray served as interim head coach and did an excellent job. Ray is now serving as the varsity offensive line coach for the Warriors under Bob Hadfield.

Ray has worked for the Department of Corrections for several years and just recently took a position at Pelican Bay as a fire captain.

Ray and his wife Trisha have contributed to Warrior athletics in
another way. They have four children, all of whom have been excellent
Warriors.

Ryan, the oldest boy, played both football and basketball while at
Del Norte. He was an outstanding lineman and after graduation played a
season with the Wild River Storm, a semi pro team in the Oregon
Football League. Ryan now helps in the junior varsity program as an
assistant line coach.

Trevor, the next in line, was a three sport athlete, but again,
football was his specialty. He was an outstanding running back and
defensive back on some of the Warrior’s best football teams while
playing for coach Lewis Nova. Trevor is now in his second year playing
running back for Shasta College in Redding.

Kaylie, their oldest daughter, graduated from Del Norte last spring.
While at Del Norte she played volleyball, basketball and track and was
very good at all of them. She now attends school at College of the
Redwoods.

The youngest daughter, Kristyn, is a junior this year at Del Norte
and is making her mark in volleyball, basketball, softball and dance.

This is another of the many Warrior families that Del Norte fans are justly proud of.

Dick Trone writes on his reflections and the history of Del Norte
High Warrior sports. Trone, who played football for the Warriors, had
an illustrious career on the gridiron at Humboldt State University.
Trone was head football coach at Del Norte High for a number of years
before retiring.